Art Director

JOB DESCRIPTION

ART DIRECTOR

Minor in advertising.

Major in
mattering

. 

Academy is a full-service, social-first agency that makes brands matter to the people who matter most to them.

We're on a mission to connect what brands have to say with what people
actually

care about through best-in-class strategy, creativity and cultural insight.

This job is not easy. But it's fulfilling, it's fun, it's a bootcamp in betterment, and a crash course in what's possible when smart, capable people come together and make things happen. And we hope you make the best work of your career here.

The
Art Director

is part of our Creative team at Academy who plays an important role in concepting for campaign and always-on creative work.  They report to the Creative Director, working collaboratively with all other departments to ensure we're producing consistent, fluid, social-first creative that doesn't just work—it actually
matters.

They have killer instincts when it comes to content, community, culture, and what makes something cool. They have a track record of successful collaboration and producing results-driven creative.  They love being challenged, and challenging others. They're adaptable, supportive, and team-first—the thought of working for a growing company doesn't scare them, it excites them.

On a day-to-day basis, the Art Director is responsible for:

• Collaborating interdepartmentally to develop 360, social-first ideas that translate into engaging content and overarching brand activities
• Creative ideation: consistently coming to the table with fresh, insightful, best-in-class ideas that matter, both for our clients and for Academy
• Using strategic research and insights to make informed ideas surrounding creative that works across various marketing channels
• Establishing the visual tone and treatment for various creative projects, including campaigns, productions, visual toolkits, events and more
• Discovering and staying on top of the latest cultural trends, best practices, innovations, and features within the creative, marketing, and design industries to inform creative work
• Effectively briefing in team members to action creative projects while providing guidance to Designers and Coordinators during executional phases
• Working in conjunction with other creative, strategy, and production team members to ensure brand positioning and KPIs are always pulled through our visuals
• Clearly articulating concepts using creative materials such as mood-boards, mock-ups, style guides, and storyboards
• Presenting concepts and work internally & externally to clients and partners
• Additional responsibilities as required.

Successful candidates will:

• Have 4+ years of experience as an Art Director or in similar role
• Demonstrate a high EQ as well as strategic, out-of-the-box thinking
• Have a strong portfolio highlighting social-first, 360 campaigns, productions and design thinking
• Be fluent in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite and other design tools
• Have a proven ability to ideate, present, and sell through ideas both internally and externally
• Have proven ability to toggle between hands-on execution and higher-level concepting, equally comfortable designing a frame, directing a shoot, or shaping a campaign's visual language.
• Excel in juggling multiple projects simultaneously, with an understanding of managing deadlines, integrating revision rounds & feedback, and prioritizing tasks accordingly
• Work quickly, efficiently, and have the ability to methodically meet quick turnarounds
• Relentlessly pursue clarity and organization
• Show strong communication skills with the ability to hold direct, candid conversations with a calm, constructive demeanor
• Possess a positive energy and a team-oriented mentality

Note: the Company reserves the right to change, add to and remove the duties listed above, and any such change does not constitute constructive dismissal.

Start Date:

November 2025

Work Expectation:

This is a Toronto-based, hybrid role.

Benefits:

• Health Spending Account
• Dental Coverage
• Prescription Drug Coverage